Prefatory

Alternative forms

• præfatory obsolete

Origin

1670s, from Medieval Latin *praefator + -ory("agent"), from Medieval Latin prefatia (whence preface), for classical Latin praefatio ("a saying beforehand") – see preface for details.

Online Etymology Dictionary

Note that this is borrowed from Latin, not derived in English from preface, as in occasional misspelling *prefecatory.

Full definition of prefatory

Adjective

1. introductory, preliminary, serving as a prelude or preface.

Usage notes

Rather formal and academic – preliminary is less formal, while introductory is less formal still. Casual alternative is to use some from of start, as in “To start…” or “Let me start by saying…”, as opposed to “By way of prefatory remarks…”.